Table Of ContentThe Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Abel (Abell), Carl Friedrich (1723–87)1 musician, composer
See also Bach, Johann Christian; and VENUES: Concert Rooms: Carlisle House
11 November 1771 Insurance Policy No. 304374, Ms 11936/210, p.197
304374 Charles Frederick Abel at No201 in Oxford \ Street, Musician, On
8/~ his Houshold Goods in his now dwelling house \ only Brick
Xmas 1778 situate as aforesaid not exceeding One hundred & fifty Pounds \ 150
£2″ 8″10 Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding One hundred Pounds \ 100
6/10 Musical Instruments therein only not exceeding One hundred & \
Griffin fifty Pounds \ 150
£400
Thos Gardner H Watts John Barwick
10 May 1779 Insurance Policy No. 414008, Ms 11936/275, p.290
414008 Charles Frederick Abell \ of Duke St Portland Chapel Musician, \
£1 On his Houshold Goods in his Dwelling \ House Only Brick Situate
Midsr 1780 as aforesaid \ Not Exceedg Six Hundred Pounds \ 600
£1..2..11 Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceedg \ Two Hundred Pounds \ 200
Griffin Plate Therein only not Exceedg One Hundd \ Pounds \ 100
{Mid. 82} Musical Instruments therein only not \ Exceedg One Hundred 100
Pounds \ £1000
F Pigou J Moffatt W T Aslett
Abel, Charles Frederick and Bach, John Christian musicians, composers
See also Bach, John Christian; and VENUES: Concert Rooms: Carlisle House
16 April 1764 Insurance Policy No. 208656, Ms 11936/153, p.481
208656 Charles Frederick Abel & John \ Bach of King Square Court Dean
£1 10 ~ Street Soho \
″ ″
Lday 1765 Musicians on their Household Goods Printed Books \ and Musical
Berry Instruments in thier now Dwelling \ House only Brick situate as
aforesaid not Exceeding \ Six Hundred Pounds \ 600
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding Five \ Hundred
Pounds \ 500
Plate therein only not Exceeding One Hundred Pds \ 100
£1200
W Watts J Mason F Pigou
1 Carl Friedrich Abel was active in London from c1759, Mortimer’s London Universal Directory of 1763
describing him as a composer of music and harpsichord teacher, residing at Mr Herve’s, a watchmaker, in
Greek Street, Soho; see Thurston Dart, ‘An Eighteenth-Century Directory of London Musicians reprinted
from Mortimer’s London Universal Directory (1763)’, The Galpin Society Journal II (1949), p.27. He
resided with Johann Christian Bach for a brief period and together they directed a series of concerts at
Carlisle House (1765–67, 1774). He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge of the Nine Muses; see
Simon McVeigh, ‘Freemasonry and Music in London in the Late Eighteenth Century’, Music in
Eighteenth-Century Britain, ed. David Wyn Jones (Aldershot: Ashgate, 2000), p.94. For further
information see Philip H. Highfill Jr., Kalman A. Burnim and Edward A. Langhans, A Biographical
Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London,
1660–1800 (Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois Press, 1973–93), vol.1, pp.3–6.
1
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Abell, John (d 1768)2 music engraver, music printer
See also Walsh (ii), John; Randall, William; and Wright, Herman
7 February 1763 Insurance Policy No. 196928, Ms 11936/146, pages damaged
196928 John Abell at Mr Walsh’s a Music Shop \ in Catharine Street in the
4⁄ Strand Engraver of \ Music on his household Goods & Printed
Lday 1764 Books \ in the now dwelling house only Brick of \ Mr Walsh
4⁄6~ situate as aforesaid not Exceedg \
J Berry One hundred and twenty Pounds \ 120
Wearg Apparel therein only not Exceedg Sixty Pounds \ 60
Plate therein only not Exceedg Twenty pounds \ 20
£200
C Bewick J Mason Th Watts
29 July 1766 Insurance Policy No. 235775, Ms 11936/168, p.559
235775 John Abell of Catherine Street in the \ Strand Musick Printer On his
7⁄~ Household Goods in \ in [sic] his now Dwelling House only
Midsr: 1767 Brick situate \ as aforesaid not Exceeding One Hundred & twenty
Rogers Pds \ 120
Printed Books therein only not Exceeding Ten Pds \ 10
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding \ Forty Pounds \ 40
Plate therein only not Exceeding Twenty pounds \ 20
Glass & China therein only not Exceeding Ten \ Pounds \ 10
£200
R Scott T Gardnor C Bewicke Junr
{See Ind No15 P531
Do No17 P181}
London March 1769 Endorsement to Policy No. 235775, Ms 12160/15, p.531
235775 John Abell Catherine St Now Herman Wright3 \ he having Married Jane
168 (cid:1) Daughter & Exx to John \ Abell Deceas’d & Remov’d to his Dwelling House \
Brick in Marsham Street Westmr
17 Do JR
London October 1769 Endorsement to Policy No. 235775, Ms 12160/17, p.181
235775 Herman Wright Marsham St Remov’d to his \ Dwelling House Brick
168 (cid:1) near opposite Old Round \ Court in the Strand 4 Octob JR
2 With William Randall, John Abell was successor to the business of John Walsh (ii) for the years 1766–
68; Abell’s 1763 policy confirms that he resided at the home of John Walsh (ii) at least three years prior
to his succession. Following Abell’s death in 1768, the business was continued by William Randall alone.
Abell’s will was made 17 May 1768 and proved 10 August 1768 (TNA: PRO B 11/941, f.193); the
executors included William Randall and his daughter Jane. For further information see Charles
Humphries and William C. Smith, Music Publishing in the British Isles from the beginning until the
middle of the nineteenth century, second edition (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1970), p.267.
3 The music printer Herman Wright married Jane Abell, daughter of John Abell, on 24 November 1768 in
the presence of William Randall and Mary Randall (WCA, St Mary le Strand, Marriage Register 1754–
1812, mf 8).
2
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Adcock, Abraham (fl 1749–73)4 trumpeter, organ builder
26 January 1763 Insurance Policy No. 196357, Ms 11936/145, p.579
196357 Abraham Adcock at the Corner of Orange \ Street in Castle Street
Leicester Fields Musician on \ his Household goods & Musical
10⁄~ Instruments in \ his now dwelling House only Brick situate as \
aforesaid not Exceeding Four Hundred Pounds \ 400
Xmas 1763 Wearg Apparell therein only not Exceedg Eighty Pounds \ 80
Plate therein only not exceeding Twenty pounds \ 20
J Berry £500
L S Aynscombe J Fisher J Mason
{See Ind No11 P36 & 100 See Ind No19 P157 & 440
Do No 17 P498}
[Endorsement Volume Nos.11 and 19 are missing]
London July 1770 Endorsement to Policy No. 196357, Ms 12160/17, p.498
196357 Abraham Adcock Bowe St CG Remov’d to his \ Apart in the dwelling
146 [sic] (cid:2) House Brick of Mr \ Harding Cabinet Maker the Corner of Martlets \ Court
in Bowe Street Cov Garden 6 Oct EG
4 According to Mortimer’s London Universal Directory of 1763, as well as playing the trumpet and
violin, Abraham Adcock was an organ builder, who resided at the corner of Orange Street, in Castle
Street, near the Mews; see Dart (1949), pp.27 and 30. From the 1749 Westminster Poll Book we know
that he previously resided in Queen’s Head Court, St James Piccadilly (LMA, WR/PP1749/4). He is
described in the Theatrical Monitor on 28 November 1767 as having ‘[…] been twenty-eight years in the
orchestra of Covent Garden. He is also greatly eminent in his profession of an Organ-builder, and ever
was, and is esteemed as one of the best trumpets in England.’ See Paul Tindall, ‘New Sources for the
Eighteenth-Century: Organ-Builders in English Newspapers, I (to 1775)’, The Organ Yearbook XXXIX
(2010), p.47. He registered William Jenkins as an apprentice on 2 August 1737 (TNA: PRO IR 1/15, f.93)
and according to the testimony of his servant Eleanor Tims on 5 February 1774, she had been hired by
Adcock ‘at the yearly wages of £4 diet and lodging’; from Tim Hitchcock, Robert Shoemaker, Sharon
Howard and Jamie McLaughlin, et al., London Lives, 1690–1800 (<http://www.londonlives.org>,
reference number smdsset_59_53421, accessed 14 May 2013); original document: WCA, St Martin-in-
the-Fields, Settlement Examination Books 1773–1774, F5061, p.226, mf 2465. Adcock made his will on
15 December 1764 and it was proved on 7 January 1774 (TNA: PRO B 11/994, f.2). For further
information see Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1, p.36.
3
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Addison, Robert (fl 1767–73)5 cabinet maker, organ builder, upholder
23 October 1767 Insurance Policy No. 249981, Ms11936/178, p.68
249981 Robert Addison at the Golden Head in Hanover \ Street Long Acre
s8⁄ Cabinet Maker Organ Builder & Upholder \ On his Houshold
Michs 1768 Goods in his now Dwelling House only \ Brick situate as
Rogers aforesaid not exceeding Eighty Pounds \ £80
{Michs 82} Utensils Stock & Goods in Trust (Glass excepted) therein only \
not exceeding Twenty Pounds \ 20
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding Forty Pounds \ 40
Plate therein only not exceeding Ten Pounds \ 10
Utensils Stock & Goods in Trust (Glass excepted) in his Brick \ &
Timber Workshop Shed & Yard only communicating \ behind his
House not exceeding One Hundred & Fifty Pounds \ 150
£300
Lillie Aynscombe Chas Pole John Drummond
Aire, John6 organ builder
See also Hayman, Christopher; and Hornbuckle, William
13 November 1773 Insurance Policy No. 332729, Ms 11936/226, pages damaged
332729 John Aire at Mr Drabbles Bookbinder at \ No12 in Angel Court in
4 the Strand Organ Builder \
Xmas On his house household [sic] Goods, in the now dwelling house
1774 only Brick \ of Mr Drabble situate as aforesaid not exceeding [missing
4/6 Seventy pounds \ values
Griffin Utensils Stock & Goods in trust therein only not exceeding Eighty due to
pounds \ [repaired
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding Fifty pounds \ page]
John Mason Will Webber Nichs Pearse
{See Ind No21 P453 No27 P292}
[Endorsement Volume No.21 is missing]
London 26 December 1778 Endorsement to Policy No. 332729, Ms 12160/27, p.292
332729 John Aire | Holborn | Remov’d to his now dwelling \ House | Brick | situate
226 (cid:1) near Little Drury Lane in \ the Strand where the whole Contents Continue &c
JG
5 Robert Addison of St Martin-in-the-Fields registered James Roe as an apprentice cabinet maker on 9
January 1773 (TNA: PRO IR 1/27, f.165).
6 It is possible that there was a connection between John Aire and the organ builders Christopher Hayman
and William Hornbuckle, who also resided in Angel Court, St Mary le Strand (sometimes referred to as
Eagle Court) from the mid 1760s until the mid 1780s.
4
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Armenio, Andrea (fl 1771–77)7 musician
29 November 1771 Insurance Policy No. 305090, Ms 11936/211, pages damaged
305090 Andrea Armenio facing the George & Dragon {in Halfpenny
6/ Alley} \ in Jacob Street near Dock Head Musician On his \
Xmas 1772 Houshold Goods in his now dwelling House only situate \ as
6/6 aforesaid Brick & Timber not exceeding One Hundred \ Pounds \ 100
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding Seventy Pounds \ 70
& On his Musical Instruments therien only not exceeding \ Thirty
Pounds \ 30
£200
J Harrison J Drummond G Mason
7 Andrea Armenio married Mary Satchewell in St Mary at Hill on 5 April 1777, see
<http://familysearch.org> (accessed 8 March 2012); he is not recorded in Highfill et al (1973–93).
5
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Arne, Cecilia, nee Young (1711–89)8 singer
See also Arne, Thomas Augustine; and Barthélemon, François-Hippolyte
17 July 1765 Insurance Policy No. 222151, Ms11936/162, p.62
222151 Cælia Arne at Mr Golstones a \ Carpenter opposite Coventry Street
4⁄~ in the Hay \ Market [blank] on her Household Goods in her \ now
Mids 1766 Dwelling House only Brick of Mr \ Golstone situate as
Rogers aforesaid not Exceeding \ One Hundred Pounds \ 100
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding \ One Hundred
Pounds \ 100
£200
W Webber T Gardnor T Barwick
{See Ind No14 P284}
[Endorsement Volume No.14 is missing]
20 July 1772 Insurance Policy No. 314652, Ms 11936/217, p.94
314652 Cecilia (Wife of Thomas Augustine) Arne at Mr \ Barthelemon’s
4/~ Musician in Dean Street Soho On her Houshold \ Goods in the now
Midsr 1773 dwelling House only Brick of Mr Barthelemon \ situate as
Griffin aforesaid not exceeding One Hundred Pounds \ 100
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding One Hundred Pounds \ 100
£200
N Pearse Geo. Mason Thos Watts
12 January 1774 Insurance Policy No. 335123, Ms 11936/229, pages damaged
[335123] Cecilia Arne (Wife of Thomas Augustine \ Arne) at Mr Farmers,
Toyman No 34 Portland \ Street Oxford Street on her Houshold
[missing] goods in the \ Dwelling House only of Mr Farmer {situate as}
aforesaid Brick \ not exceeding one hundred Pounds \ £100
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding one hundd pd \ 100
£200
J Harrison J Chalie C Foulis
{See Ind No22 P457}
[Endorsement Volume No.22 is missing]
8 Cecilia Young made her singing debut in 1730 and thereafter performed at numerous London venues,
including the Haymarket, Drury Lane and Covent Garden Theatres. She married Thomas Arne on 15
March 1736/37 in Lincolns Inn Chapel, Holborn (<http://familysearch.org>, accessed 20 October 2010)
and introduced many of his songs at various Pleasure Gardens. She separated from her husband for some
20 years and all insurance policies in her name refer to premises not associated with Thomas Arne. Her
niece Polly Young was married to the French violinist François-Hippolyte Barthélemon, with whom she
briefly resided; her sister Esther Young was married to the musican, musical instrument dealer and music
seller Charles Jones (see separate policies). See Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1, pp.117–20.
6
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Arne, Michael (c1740–86)9 composer, master of music
See also Arne, Thomas Augustine
19 April 1769 Insurance Policy No. [26]9145, Ms 11936/189, p.452
[26]9145 Michael Arne of Lawrence Street Chelsea Master \ of Music on
13⁄ his Houshold Goods in his now Dwelling \ House only Brick
Lday 1770 situate as aforesaid exceeding \ Four Hundred Pounds \ £400
Rogers Printed Books therein only not exceeding Thirty Pounds \ 30
Music Books therein only not exceeding Twenty Pounds \ 20
Glass & China therein only not exceeding Fifty Pounds \ 50
£500
C Bewicke Junr Wm Hamilton John Mason
{See Ind No17 P100}
London July 1769 Endorsement to Policy No. 269145, Ms 12160/17, p.100
269145 Michl Arne Chelsea Remov’d to his Dwelling \ House Brick two Doors
189 (cid:1) from the Midx Hospital \ in Charles Street Oxford Road
19 Do JR
9 Michael Arne was the son of Thomas Arne and made his reputation as a harpsichordist and composer of
theatre music and popular songs; he registered Ann Venables as an apprentice for seven years on 10
March 1768 (TNA: PRO IR 1/25, f.143). Arne took a brief and expensive interest in alchmey, apparently
building a laboratory in Chelsea, to which his 1769 insurance policy might refer. He was often in debt
and, according to a notice in the London Gazette for 25 July 1772, was imprisoned in the King’s Bench;
see Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1, pp.101–3.
7
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Arne, Thomas Augustine (1710–78)10 musician, composer
See also Arne, Cecila; Arne, Michael; Barthélemon, François-Hippolyte; and Brent, Charlotte
9 September 1765 Insurance Policy No. 224189, Ms11936/163, p.426
224189 Dr Thomas Augustin [sic] Arne of \ Covent Garden Piazza On his
11⁄~ Household Goods \ and Printed Books and Musical Instruments \
Michs 1766 in his now Dwelling House only Brick situate \ as aforesaid not
11⁄8 Exceeding two Hundred & Eighty \ five Pounds \ 285
Rogers Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding \ Twenty Pounds \ 20
Plate therein only not Exceeding Sixty five Pds \ 65
Glass & China therein only not Exceeding thirty Pounds \ 30
£400
W Braund T Watts W Thornton
11 August 1768 Insurance Policy No. 259587, Ms 11936/183, p.703
259587 Dr: Thomas Augustin [sic] Arne of Covent [Garden] \ Piazza On
s10⁄ his Houshold Goods in his now Dwelling \ House only Brick
Michs:1769 situate as aforesaid not exceeding \ One hundred Pounds \ £100
s11⁄6d Plate therein only not exceeding One Hundred Pounds \ 100
Rogers Organ & other Musical Instruments therein only not \ exceeding
Three Hundred Pounds \ 300
£500
Fredk Pigou N Pearse Wm Hamilton
2 March 1778 Insurance Policy No. 395833, Ms 11936/265, p.53
395833 Doctr Thomas Augustine Arne \ in Bow Street Covent Garden On
his Houshold \ Goods in his now dwelling house only situate as \
6/ aforesaid Brick not Exceedg Two hundd & Twenty \ five Pounds \ 225
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceedg Twenty \ five Pounds \ 25
Lday 1779 Plate therein only not Exceedg Fifty Pounds \ 50
£300
6/6 W J Astell S Pole H Watts
{See Ind No27 P280}
London 17 December 1778 Endorsement to Policy No. 395833, Ms 12160/27, p.280
395833 Dr Thomas Augustus [sic] Arne Bow St CG Removd \ to the now dwelling
265 (cid:1) House, Brick, of Mr Cowies in \ Parliament Street Westminster seedsman
where the whole Contents Continue &c GL
10 Thomas Arne was the son of an upholsterer and contrary to general opinion appears to have been
apprenticed to his father Thomas Arne for seven years on 12 May 1725 (GL, Upholders’ Company,
Apprenticeship Bindings 1704–72, Ms 7142/1, p.118). He is said to have studied the violin with Michael
Festing and was active in the London music trade from at least 1732. He married Cecilia Young in a
Roman Catholic ceremony on 15 March 1736/37 in Lincolns Inn Chapel, Holborn
(<http://familysearch.org>, accessed 20 October 2010) but they lived apart for a period of about 20 years
from the mid-1750s. The separation coincided with his interest in Charlotte Brent, whose insurance policy
of 1765 provides evidence that they temporarily resided together. He made his will on 6 December 1777
and it was proved on 16 March 1778 (TNA: PRO B 11/1040, ff.11–12). The final endorsement, dated 17
December 1778, was probably made by his his wife Cecilia, with whom he was reconciled for the last
few years of his life; see Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1, pp.108–17.
8
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Arnold, Samuel (1740–1802)11 composer, conductor, organist
15 July 1765 Insurance Policy No. 222132, Ms11936/162, p.54
222132 Samuel Arnold at Mr Bowsey’s a \ Peruke maker in Great
4⁄~ Newport Street Musick \ Master On his Household Goods Printed
Mids 1766 Books \ and Musical Instruments in the now \ Dwelling House
Rogers only Brick of Mr Bowsey \ situate as aforesaid not Exceeding
One Hundred \ and fifty Pounds \ 150
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding \ fifty Pounds \ 50
£200
W Webber T Gardnor T Barwick
3 July 1766 Insurance Policy No. 234926, Ms 11936/168, p.401
234926 Samuel Arnold near the Middlesex \ Hospital in Charles Street
9⁄~ Cavendish Square \ Musick Master On his Household Goods in \ his
Midsr: 1767 now Dwelling House only Brick situate \ as aforesaid not
Rogers Exceeding One Hundred and \ Seventy Pounds \ 170
Printed Books therein only not Exceeding \ Twenty Pounds \ 20
Musical Instruments therein only not \ Exceeding Fifty Pounds \ 50
Wearing Apparel therein only not Exceeding \ Fifty Pounds \ 50
Glass & China therein only not Exceeding Ten Pounds \ 10
£300
J Mason C Bewicke Junr C Pole
11 Samuel Arnold was a composer and organist at the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey; see
Recollections of R. J. S. Stevens: An Organist in Georgian London, ed. Mark Argent (London and
Basingstoke: The Macmillan Press Limited, 1992), p.286. He registered Elizabeth Leake as an apprentice
for five years on 28 August 1792 (TNA: PRO IR 1/35, f.144) and was a member of the Somerset House
Masonic Lodge; see McVeigh (2000), p.92. His address is recorded as 485 Strand in Joseph Doane, A
Musical Directory for the Year 1794 (London: R. H. Westley, 1794; re-issued from a copy in their
collections by the Royal College of Music, London, 1993), p.2. See also Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1,
pp.122–6.
9
The Galpin Society: Whitehead and Nex, ‘Sun insurance policies 1710-79’, A to D
Asbridge (Ashbridge), John (fl 1770–98)12 kettledrummer, bassoonist
21 November 1770 Insurance Policy No. 291349, Ms 11936/202, p.99
291349 John Asbridge in Strand Lane in the Strand \ Music Master his
10⁄ Wife a Milliner On his Houshold \ Goods in his now dwelling
Xmas 1771 House only situate as aforesaid \ Brick not exceeding Two
11⁄ Hundred Pounds \ 200
Printed Books therein only not exceeding Ten Pounds \ 10
Utensils Stock & Goods in Trust therein only not \ exceeding
Sixty Pounds \ 60
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding One Hundred \ &
Fifty Pounds \ 150
Plate therein only not exceeding Thirty Pounds \ 30
Musical Instruments therein only not exceeding Fifty Pounds \ 50
£500
C Bewicke Jr T Gardner R Scott
24 June 1776 Insurance Policy No. 370205, Ms 11936/249 p.238
370205 John Asbridge at No16 Clements \ Inn Musician \
On his household Goods in his Apartments only up two \ pair of
6/ Stairs Brick situate as aforesaid not exceeding \ One hundred
pounds \ 100
Midr 1777 Printed Books therein only not exceeding Ten pounds \ 10
Wearing Apparel therein only not exceeding One hundred \ &
G thirty pounds \ 130
Plate therein only not exceeding Ten pounds \ 10
Musical Instruments therein only not exceeding Fifty pounds \ 50
£300
C Bewicke Saml Pole John Moffatt
{See Ind No31 P51 & 194}
[Endorsement Volume No.31 is missing]
12 John Asbridge played the bassoon and was employed as a kettledrummer at Drury Lane Theatre
(c1771–98); his address is recorded as 18 Stangate Street, Lambeth, in Doane (1794), p.3. For further
information see Highfill et al (1973–93), vol.1, pp.133–4.
10
Description:1 Carl Friedrich Abel was active in London from c1759, Mortimer's London Universal Directory of 1763 describing him as a composer of music and
